Mukkur Swami's upanyasam tapes-2

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

In this post, adiyen is continuing the summary of Sri Mukkur Swamin's

upanyasam tapes.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

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Having dwelt on the elevated status of Bhagavan Narasimha, Sri Swami

exclaimed that the term namaha: is reserved for exclusive use in the

context of Bhagavan Narasimha. Narasimha is one who is ever

auspicious (shambu arising from the combination of sham+bhu). He

holds the bow called pinaka. Therefore, He is known as PinAki. He

exudes auspiciousness all around. Such a great

Lord was instrumental in starting Sri Ahobila Matham. It was Bhagavan

Narasimha in the garb of a Sanyasi, who gave the presha mantram to

Sri Kidambi Srinivasachariar Swami, who came to be known as Adivan

Satakopa Jeeyar. "AhobilE Sri Nrusimham prEsha mantram svayam dadhoU

yOgirUpENa yasyAsmai satakOpAya Mangalam" was the shlokam quoted

by Sri Swami in testimony of the above fact.

 

Sri Swami continued that Sri Ahobila Matham has been blessed with pre-

eminent Acharyas from then on until the present time. Sri Swami

fondly recalled an interesting anecdote with Sri Mukkur Azhagiya

Singar. SalakshaNa Ghanapati was a pre-eminent Veda Vidwan.

Once, he visited Mukkur Azhagiyasingar, who asked him "How many times

does vedam speak about Brahman?" SalakshaNa Ghanapati was hard

pressed to answer this question. At that time, Sri Mukkur

Azhagiyasingar remarked "Being a Ghanapati and effortlessly recalling

Vedic passages is not sufficient. A vedavith must be able to answer

questions of any nature pertaining to the Vedas."

 

Sri Swami then returned to the subject of Bhagavan Nrusimha and

observed that the Vaibhavam of Bhagavan Narasimha is celebrated in

the seventh skandam of Srimad Bhagavatam. At this time, Sri Swami's

exemplary humility shone forth in his remark"Do you think I can do

justice to the elevated subject of Bhagavan Narasimha. One must

hear this only from noble personages like Shuka Brahmam. There cannot

be a greater narrator than him nor can there be a greater listener

than Parikshith. Let us understand the greatness of Shuka Brahmam

first."

 

Swami continued "Shuka Brahmam was a practitioner of single-minded

Bhakti to Lord Narayana and none else. He was oblivious to the form

or appearance of any person or thing. He only beheld Lord Narayana in

every animate and inanimate object. One day he was walking by

a river where Apsara damsels were performing snanam bereft of any

clothing. However, they continued their act as if nothing had

happened. A short while later, Vedavyasa walked by and the same

Apsara damsels rushed to cover their bodies with their clothes.

Vedavyasa was somewhat enraged by this and demanded an explanation of

the damsels for their act. The damsels remarked in unison "Yes your

son walked by a short while before you. However, did he stop to talk

to us? No He just went his way. He is able to see Lord Narayana alone

in every being be it a mountain, an insect, or a human being. Whereas

You are endowed with Bheda jnAnam, i.e., you can make a distinction

between the being and their indweller, Lord Narayana. Therefore, we

acted as we did". This is not intended in anyway to belittle

Vedavyasa Rishi but only to illustrate the greatness of Shuka

Brahmam. This is called nahi ninda nyAyam. That is to bring out the

greatness of a person or thing, that object is compared to

another. However, this is not intended to belittle the latter."

 

To be continued